Hey guys, a few of you(and I do mean few, possible only one or two) may know what my very current status is with what's been going on. I hate to say "coming soon!" because that's not my style. However, I feel I should do a short update about one of the particular products that I am working on. I will call the smartbar bypass. This will most likely come in a few styles being mainly; 1, a locker bypass in plug-n-play configuration; 2, a replacement board for your smartbar that will require removal of the plug from the circuit board(advanced skills recommend for the removal and soldering/reflow of circuit board); 3, custom control box to activate a solenoid valve to actuate an air locker(this can be any or all combinations of air and/or electric locker)

This will be built using maintenance free components to help guarantee better, reliable operation ie. no relays or moving parts. Granted relays are still reliable however, they too will burn out after some time and sooner than later for the ones with defects or cheaply made units. For the custom style, it will allow expandable options for future changes and modifications. Think of it as a "grows up with your build" option. An example is you are planning to go air but currently have electric. It will work with your indicator lights to actually tell you when you engage, but, won't stop the rest of the system due to drive line delay( who cares if your front locks before the rear does, aka no waiting in line).

More details of the entire system and it's operation to come later. Stay tuned, and post your thoughts and questions and I'll try to answer as soon as I can.

--Chris

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Nothing's more dead than a horse in a glue bottle.

There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation.
One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
John Adams - 1826

What Generations will it work with ? I ask because I have an "old" 3rd Gen PW-2008.

And, if the new ZR2 does not make it to market or cost $50k, then I might as well get another Power Wagon. I Don't even know what Gen they are on now. I havn't been keeping up too well.

Traded to 2019 ZR2, Red.

4Runner was a GREAT vehicle but could not even tow our 6x10 enclosed utility trailer comfortably, even when it was empty-ish.

It was time. Truck was still leaking BADLY every time it rained or snowed & melted. It was leaking at every single gasket (rear window, front window, all 4 doors). You could sit inside & watch it run down the inside of windshield, rear window & drip off the upper side door beams. It was molding on the inside & starting to stink. Needed new steering gearbox, shocks, new upgraded T-style steering, tires, brake lines, d/s manifold bolts that are barely recognizable due to rust-removed & replaced. Everyone around here would not even touch em once they looked at them.

So, say what you will. PW turned into a money pit. Was no longer a joy to drive. Hoping that this downsized 4x4 with lockers will fill the bill & have minimal problems, but..... As long as manufacturers keep making engineers design things that fail soon after warranty is up, we are going nowhere fast. Regardless of what you buy.

Godspeed, Pit Slave! I know that a few have undertaken endeavors like this one, and have been crushed under the weight of having a real life and a never-ending list of forum newbies shouting "I want one!" I believe if anybody can do it, you can. Good luck!

Haven't been following the forum very often lately, sometimes life just gets in the way. Have been following 3rd gen locker-by-pass projects for a few years now. I think if anybody can do this it is going to be you. Would like to purchase a unit when they are ready and thanks for keeping us updated. Waiting for more good news on this project.

"All too often, people born into a state free of tyranny, never fully realize the price paid in achieving this most rare and precious of gifts. And, thinking that freedom was a normal environment of the People, never understood its fragility or true value until after it was lost."
J.C. Harrison

Ok, I have made some more progress. I will need to do some load testing to be certain that the design can handle the electrical current. Oh and one more thing, this is a maintenance-free design. It's without mechanical relays and all solid state.

Yeah, I smoked 'em, sometimes you just gotta #sendit

Nothing's more dead than a horse in a glue bottle.

There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation.
One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
John Adams - 1826

Surprised that you are still working on this project, but it is refreshing to here from you. What is the expected wait time until you have a unit completed and just what Gen's of the PW will it work on? How soon before you have enough units to sell? Inquiring minds would like to know!

"All too often, people born into a state free of tyranny, never fully realize the price paid in achieving this most rare and precious of gifts. And, thinking that freedom was a normal environment of the People, never understood its fragility or true value until after it was lost."
J.C. Harrison

In all honesty, the main unit should work with anything. The only issue is I haven't worked on the newer trucks with the CAD system on the front axle.

Once everything is worked out on the design and finalized, it should be about a 2~3 week turn around or sooner. I am doing my best to stick with a more readily available parts source instead of slow vendors. The wiring is from a US manufacturer, the same one that supplies to the "big3" so it's specific for automotive use. I can at the user's request upgrade that to mil spec Teflon at cost of the wire. Not cheap.

But like I said, I need to do some abusive testing on the circuit/electronics to be able to give it a go.

Yeah, I smoked 'em, sometimes you just gotta #sendit

Nothing's more dead than a horse in a glue bottle.

There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation.
One is by the sword. The other is by debt.
John Adams - 1826

For those of us with air lockers would you be able to make something to fool the computer into thinking the oem lockers are still plugged in? I get tired of the flashing " your locker no worky" lights.